Christopher Jaffe (he/him) is a Chicago-based non-profit leader and currently serves as the Senior Director of Innovation and Practice for Heartland Alliance. With nearly two decades of experience in the field, he has professionally supported more than 20 social service organizations to design and implement programs, strategically plan large-scale growth, to build capacity with fidelity, and improve development and operations systems. Christopher has served as an Executive Director, a non-profit founder, and has worked with organizations of varying sizes and focus areas across the US, UK, South Africa, Lebanon, Jordan, and the Netherlands.
He has also served on the Leadership Team of Youth Guidance’s Becoming a Man (BAM) Program, on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE), and the Alumni Board of Directors for the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago's Crown School and a BA from DePaul University in Sociology.
Christopher has a passion for collaborating with agencies to create and expand quality programs that serve vulnerable populations in a myriad of contexts. He has invested in the study of public administration and policy issues connected in inequality, the justice system, and urban youth. Christopher lives on the northwest side of Chicago with his family.
Current Projects
Past Projects
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
09/2022-Present
Impact Division
Senior Director, Innovation and Practice
Lead Innovation and Practice long and short-range business planning, design new human and social service projects.
Oversee development of the RISE Initiative (Refugee, Immigrant, and Asylum Seeker Engagement), a comprehensive set of resources coordinated through a central intake and internal referral system including; housing, employment, medical care, mental health care, legal services, and cash assistance.
Oversee Participant Voice Initiative, incorporating feedback from Heartland participants into all levels of programatic operations.
Oversee Housing Justice Framework, developing a cross-Alliance framework for Heartland's approach to justice-informed housing policy.
10/2012-08/2022
BAM Leadership Team
Senior Manager, Partnerships & Operations
Program management and national expansion design/implementation for the Becoming a Man (BAM) Program
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Strategic planning and execution for expansion from 15 schools to 135, and 15 staff to 200. Budget Management ($15 Million)
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Design and implementation of staffing program - hired more than 350 clinical counselors in six years
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Cultivating and coordinating key agency partnerships; Chicago Mayor, Obama Foundation, Chicago Bears, Bulls & White Sox
09/2020-04/2023
Sr. Program Design & Implementation Consultant
J-PAL - Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab
Created school-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) program for youth violence reduction, Western Cape region of South Africa.
Serving as a Senior Member of the Steering Committee, alongside Department of the Premier and Department of Education.
Development and execution of virtual training program for school-based staff, social workers, and school administrators.
Providing strategic guidance on program development, curriculum design, process monitoring, and implementation strategy.
10/2016-03/2020
Senior Implementation Strategist
The Bridge Learning Interventions
Designed full academic year, social and emotional learning curriculum for immigrant and refugee youth in Amsterdam and Haarlem.
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Implemented training program for staff, and advised for program scalability.
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Guided staff to realize strategic clarity while planning for randomized control trial study (RCT)
12/2018-04/2022
Psychosocial Consultant - eMBeD
Implementation Advisor - Education GP
Developed 10-lesson light-touch PSS intervention (curriculum, methodology, & implementation strategy) for youth (9-16) in North Lebanon.
Research, consultation, and analysis of schools and non-profit organizations providing violence-reduction services across Lebanon.
Advise the team on preparation, planning, and implementation of school-based CBT intervention for Syrian refugees and Jordanian students in Jordan.
Developed 20-lesson CBT intervention (curriculum, methodology, & implementation strategy) for youth (13-18) in Amman, Jordan.
On-site research and analysis of schools in Amman, Jordan. Expert advice on program Impact Evaluation (IE) design.
09/2007-10/2010
Center Director
Developed and administered leadership, emotional literacy, personal growth, and diversity workshops for men and women.
Expanded programming (primary source of revenue) by 100%, organized community activities for volunteer base of over 5,000 people.
Developed fund-raising campaigns, created and maintained a system of operations, facilities management, and budget management.
09/2004-09/2007
Community Development Associate
DePaul University - Irwin W Steans Center
Coordinated 80 student volunteers in their participation in city-wide community service projects.
Created cohesive partnerships and developed volunteer programming with 15 Chicago Community Organizations.
Lead discussions with students reflecting on their impact in the community, addressing social justice and awareness of privilege.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
10/2012-07/2019
Board of Directors
(Executive Committee)
CAASE (Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation)
Board Development Committee Chair; directing board recruitment, professional development, and board member orientation.
Fund-raising; hosting public events, and individual donor solicitation.
08/2016-07/2019
Alumni Board of Directors
Chair of Alumni Networking and Professional Development Committee (10/2012 – 07/2019)
Coordinating professional development and networking events for University of Chicago SSA Alumni.
Developed panel discussion titled “Chicago’s Violence Problem: How Social-Emotional Learning Can Provide Promise for the City.”
09/2010-06/2012
Graduate School Internships
American Red Cross of Greater Chicago
Foundation, corporation, and personal research for funding opportunities, with a diverse selection of accounts.
Managed projects for arts-education advocacy for Chicago Public Schools.
Managed client cases and completed bio-psyco-social assessments for clients experiencing various forms of mental illness.
EDUCATION
2010-2012
Master's Degree (AM)
2004-2008
Bachelor's Degree
2015
2011
EXPERTISE
National and International Program Design/Implementation
Large-scale Program Expansion
Violence Prevention Programming
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Social & Emotional Learning
Executive Board Leadership
Research/Evaluation Design